SolarSub, an Edinburgh solar technology company developing passive cooling solutions for photovoltaic modules, has completed a £1.34 million funding round to accelerate the development and commercialisation of its technology.

The round was led by Sustainable Ventures, with participation from Zinc VC, Scottish Enterprise, Old College Capital – the University of Edinburgh’s venture investment fund, SFC Capital and the British Business Bank, alongside support from Innovate UK’s Investor Partnership programme.

Solar PV has a heat problem. As solar panels become hotter, they generate less electricity and degrade more quickly, reducing both energy output and lifetime value.

SolarSub is developing passive cooling technology designed to keep solar modules closer to their optimal operating temperature. Requiring no pumps or moving parts, the technology increases energy generation, reduces temperature-driven degradation and improves the long-term economics of solar projects.

Over the coming months, SolarSub, which was founded by two University of Edinburgh Engineering graduates, will undertake trials across multiple international locations as it works towards commercial-scale deployment.